Understand The Role You Play In Leadership

A True Leader Knows There Is No Right Answer….and finds strength in that.

There are many traits that define leadership, but one that stands out is the ability to know there is no right way of doing something. When at a crossroads with a choice of going straight, left, right, staying put or turning around…how do you make that decision? Do you see all of your options? Do you get overwhelmed? Is one choice better than the other? Is one right and are the others wrong?

A true leader is comfortable making a decision on which direction to take because they understand the result of their decision is based on what they do after making it. They are inspired by endless possibilities, not overwhelmed by them. By determining what to do along the path, and following through, a leader believes the risk is mitigated and the reward is achievable.

So how do leaders know which direction is the best direction? They don’t! But they educate themselves to be able to make decisions they can manage. Their ability to quickly acquire, filter and disseminate information is a key component to their decision-making ability…then they jump in.

What role do you play in leadership? (click here to participate in our survey)

Are you an informant? – Part of the group of people collecting and providing information to be able to make informed decisions.

Are you a manager? – Part of the group entrusted to implement and oversee the actions needed to achieve success.

Are you a leader? – The one who envisions the path forward.

No matter which role you play in leadership, appreciate the fact that one does not function well without the others. Finding the place where you are best suited gives you and your organization an advantage and opens the door for your role to change throughout your career.

Here are some other traits that define a true leader. How many of them define you?

The ability to visualize where you want to go…and see yourself there.

The desire to have others follow your lead.

The ability to define what others must accomplish along the way in order to achieve your goals.

The courage to stand up for what you need and push back on the things/people that interfere.

The confidence to be open minded to new information no matter when it comes…seeking it out at all times.

The flexibility to change direction when needed.

The charisma to engage and empower others to believe in your vision and in you.

The restraint to think before reacting…and the ability to consider all the moving parts your actions will impact.

The ability to make fast and impactful decisions.

The foresight to choose the right managers to oversee and drive progress.

The intuition to develop a trusted circle of qualified informants to enable educated and informed decisions.

The knowledge that There Is No Right Answer….and finding strength in that.

I hope this perspective is helpful to you in your day-to-day life. Test out these concepts and share your results with us. Others can benefit from your experiences. Good luck!

Written by Lisa Woods, President Lisa Woods Consulting & Founder of ManagingAmericans.com

Lisa is a dynamic business leader & author located in Western New York with more than 20 years experience leading, managing and driving growth in the corporate world. Today she partners with business leaders to understand their vision, identify internal and external roadblocks, define a practical strategic path forward and guide a successful transformation. This work includes strategy definition & goal setting, organizational design, facilitating team buy-in, establishing visual metrics, internal and external research studies, business feasibility assessments, and investor insight into organizational strength, weakness & strategic opportunity. She helps business leaders drive growth & increase profits.